As Xu Qing's Foundation Building aura spread and the bell's chimes rang on the entire Seventh Peak, three figures soared into the air from the mountain peak and flew down the mountain.
Generally speaking, if a foreign Foundation Building cultivator stepped onto the mountain steps here, they would only be stopped outside and wouldn't cause the bell to ring.
They would need to report their identity and explain their purpose of coming. An array formation would inform the person they wanted to visit. After the other party agreed, they could ascend the mountain under the surveillance of the array formation.
For instance, when the Diamond Sect's ancestor visited the Sixth Peak's Daoist Leisure Cloud, it was like this.
There was only one possibility for the bell ringing when someone stepped onto the mountain steps.
That was… the appearance of a new Foundation Building cultivator who wasn't registered in the array formation among the sect's disciples.
Of course, the enemy's attacks were another matter.
In the Seven Blood Eyes, not all piedmont disciples would choose to rent a spot in the sect's Foundation Building land when they attempted their breakthrough to the Foundation Building realm. On one hand, it was expensive. On the other hand, those who could stand out from countless Qi Condensation cultivators in this chaotic world must have their own fortuitous encounters.
This wasn't a rare occurrence. After all, other than opportunities, there was almost no trust in sects based on interests.
Therefore, about 30% of the Seven Blood Eyes' Foundation Building cultivators had made their breakthroughs outside.
These opportunities were mostly related to some ruins. Although there were others paying attention to them too, since such a thing was not an exception, plundering was considered a taboo. Once there was malicious plundering, It would be fine if it couldn't be spread. However, once it was leaked out, it would shake the foundation of the Seven Blood Eyes.
Therefore, it was strictly stopped by the Seven Blood Eyes. Although there would occasionally be conflicts in the dark, it was usually to a reasonable extent. After all, to the cultivators on the mountain of the Seven Blood Eyes, they would weigh whether it was worth it before they made a move.
Very few people would be so stupid to take such risks for an unknown benefit.
When Xu Qing chose to head out to break through to Foundation Building, he had already thought about these things. He looked at the three figures rapidly approaching and waited for them.
Very soon, the whistling sound became clearer. Among the three figures heading here, the person at the front wore a purple robe. He had a medium build and a round face.
It was the person who had guided Xu Qing the first time he went up the mountain. Back then, the other party had even kindly reminded him about the habitual flaw in his right hand and the matter of hiding a needle in cotton.
Looking at the other party's figure, Xu Qing sighed with emotion. Back then, he had only heard the other party say to hide a needle in cotton. However, after his experience in the Seven Blood Eyes and meeting many people, he had deeply understood what the phrase meant.
He had learned a lot from the Seven Blood Eyes.
Xu Qing cupped his fists. The moment the other party got close, he bowed deeply.
Laughter rang out from the sky.
The round-faced cultivator's figure flashed and he arrived in front of Xu Qing. His expression was gentle and there was a smile on his face.
"Xu Qing, the first time I saw you back then, I felt that you're definitely not an ordinary person, so I reminded you. Now that we meet again, you're already someone of my level."
"Thank you for your reminder back then, Senior." Xu Qing was grateful to this round-faced cultivator.
"There's no need to call me senior. You're already at the Foundation Building realm. You can just call me senior brother. Junior Brother Xu Qing, my name is Zhang Yunshi. You can call me Senior Brother Zhang."
While the round-faced cultivator spoke, he saw the shocked Zhao Zhongheng not far away.
He was a smart person to begin with. His gaze swept past Zhao Zhongheng's expression and then Xu Qing. He roughly guessed something but he wouldn't be meddlesome.
"Junior Brother Xu Qing, let's go up."
"Yes, please." Xu Qing nodded politely and cupped his fists toward the other two Foundation Building cultivators beside him. His gaze then casually swept past them.
He discovered that most of the Foundation Building cultivators on the mountain hid their aura. It was the same for these two people and Zhang Yunshi. As such, it was very difficult for Xu Qing to sense the exact depths of their cultivation bases immediately.
This caused him to be extremely vigilant.
These two people's statuses were clearly inferior to Zhang Yunshi's. Seeing that Zhang Yunshi had some connections with Xu Qing, they smiled faintly and cupped their fists in return before leaving.
Just like that, Xu Qing walked up the steps with Zhang Yunshi.
The trees on both sides of the mountain path provided shade. At that moment, the sea breeze caused the leaves to sway and spiritual birds chirped softly.
The sound was very pleasant to the ears, as though it could sink into one's memories. The scene of the first time he went up the mountain surfaced and overlapped with this moment.
"Junior Brother Xu, I've already introduced the world at the foot of the mountain to you back then. Today, I'll tell you about the mountain." Zhang Yunshi's calm voice echoed on the path.
"There are 13 elders on the Seventh Peak and they are all Golden Core cultivators. Below them are more than 140 Foundation Building cultivators. After you register today, there will be 149 Foundation Building cultivators on the Seventh Peak."
"It looks like a lot but in reality, it isn't many. There are only close to a thousand of them in the entire Seven Blood Eyes. You have to know that the Seven Blood Eyes is one of the four great forces in the Nanhuang Continent."
"Therefore, the status and identity of a Foundation Building cultivator are extremely high."
"This is the case everywhere in the Nanhuang Continent. It's even more so for my Seven Blood Eyes. After you register, you'll obtain about 5,700 spirit stones every month."
"The exact amount depends on the monthly earnings of the Seven Blood Eyes, so it's not fixed. However, the difference isn't very big."
"In addition, you will obtain the right to stay on the mountain. However, you have to spend money for the cave abode and the sect's Foundation Building cultivation arts. It won't be free like when you were at Qi Condensation. As for the cultivation arts, you have the right to purchase any Foundation Building cultivation arts inside the Scripture Hall."
"At the same time, as a Foundation Building cultivator, you have four rights."
"The first right is that from now on, you have the right to open a new port. You can open a port that belongs to you in the harbor area!"
"Whether you do business outside or inside, the sect will collect half of the profits from all the business in the port, but this will require people to operate or manage the businesses. The initial investment will be huge and you will have to bear it yourself."
"If you don't want the right to establish a port, you can obtain the ownership of a street in the main city. All the shops on that street will have to pay you rent. This method is simple and direct."
"Both of these choices are based on preferences. You can choose for yourself."
"The second right is that if a piedmont disciple of your peak provokes you, you can kill him. However, if you kill one person, you have to pay 100,000 spirit stones as a punishment. If you kill another person, the price will be doubled and so on. It will never be reset."
The round-faced cultivator smiled and spoke, but his words caused Xu Qing's eyes to narrow.
"This rule is actually a line in the minds of my Seven Blood Eyes' Foundation Building cultivators. Regardless of whether it's in the sect or outside the sect, they will weigh the worth in killing weaklings."
"If it's a piedmont disciple of other mountains, the price will double on top of this."
"As for the third right, you can choose two piedmont disciples or other people you acknowledge to become your followers. They will obtain the qualifications to stay in the main city for free. They can also follow you up the mountain and register in your name to cultivate."
"You won't have to pay teleportation fees in any branch of the Seven Blood Eyes. You will also have 100 residency spots in the branch city every year. You have to know that the residency rights of the branch city are very precious in the scavenger campsites and small cities outside. You can't have them unless you are recommended by the Seven Blood Eyes' disciples."
"The last right is the protection of the Seven Blood Eyes which prevents the Golden Cores outside to not dare to come here to kill you. Of course, if you take out enough spirit stones, even Nascent Soul cultivators won't dare to kill you. In fact, if you have more spirit stones, you can put up a bounty. There will definitely be someone in the sect who is willing to help you kill them."
"You have to remember that the disciples at the foot of the mountain are a group of wolf cubs, while the people on the mountain are lone wolves with their own thoughts!"
"Also, you don't have to worry about the sect's Golden Core attacking you. If they attack you outside, you're just unlucky. However, in the sect, no matter what the reason is, you have to pay a fine of a million spirit stones if you kill a Foundation Building cultivator. It's the same for killing between Foundation Building cultivators. It will double in the future and it will never be reset."
"So, it's back to the old logic. Is it worth it?!"
There was a smile in the round-faced cultivator's voice, but his words revealed the status of a Foundation Building cultivator and the cruelty on the mountain.
"What about obligations?" Xu Qing asked.
"Obligations?" The round-faced cultivator smiled.
"Everyone relied on their own efforts to struggle and kill their way out of the foot of the mountain. Therefore, they don't have any obligations to the sect. If they're willing to stay, they can get money. If they want to leave, the sect won't hold them. However, the missions issued by the sect are rich in rewards, so everyone is fighting to complete them."
"This is a pretty good way to gain spirit stones for a long period. When we encounter an invasion from foreign enemies that wants to destroy our long-term benefits, we will naturally act accordingly. After all, if we just act a bit carefully in the Foundation Building realm, we can live for a long time. How good is it to get money every month?"
"Of course, if the enemy gives an even greater benefit, it's not unacceptable. However, think about it. Are the invading enemies stupid? It's useless to bribe one or two disciples. If they want to bribe more, they have to take out huge benefits. The gains from attacking the Seven Blood Eyes will be far less than what they spent, so is it worth it?"
"As for starting a war with other forces, it's actually a magnified version of the competition you took part in. If there are benefits, we will naturally swarm over."
"The elders on the mountain also know that we are all wolf cubs, so they don't manage us at all. They only lure us with benefits."
"What truly reassures the higher-ups are the core disciples who enjoy the preferential treatment of the sect the moment they enter. The nurturing of these people is based on cohesion and a sense of belonging."
With Zhang Yunshi's introduction, Xu Qing had a deeper understanding of the Seven Blood Eyes. While he was pondering, they arrived halfway up the mountain.
"You came at the wrong time. New Foundation Building cultivators are qualified to pay a visit to the Peak Lord once. However, the peak lords of the seven peaks have gone out to sea. Something major is probably going to happen."
"First Elder and Second Elder aren't here either. Only Third Elder is guarding the mountain. After you pay him a visit, I'll bring you to the cave abode registration area and the Scripture Hall."
Soon after, Xu Qing saw the Third Elder's hall in the distance. Outside the hall, he saw another familiar figure. It was Deacon Li.
He was sitting cross-legged in front of the hall. At this moment, he opened his eyes and looked at Xu Qing and Zhang Yunshi with a faint smile.
"When the bell rang just now, I had guessed that the new Foundation Building cultivator might be you."
Xu Qing cupped his fists slightly and glanced at Deacon Li. Although the other party had also hidden his cultivation fluctuations, Xu Qing compared with his senses from back then in his memory. At that moment, he vaguely felt that Deacon Li should be a very strong Foundation Building realm cultivator.
'He should be a Foundation Building cultivator who has formed his life fire.' Xu Qing mumbled inwardly without batting an eyelid.
"Go in. The elder is waiting for you." Deacon Li's gaze moved away from Xu Qing and landed on Zhang Yunshi. Zhang Yunshi shrugged and stayed put.
Xu Qing took a deep breath and walked forward until he entered the main hall he had visited before.
The moment he stepped in, the feeling from back then descended once again. The pressure from the person sitting and meditating in the main hall spread in all directions like an avalanche.
However, this time around, Xu Qing saw the other party's appearance clearly.
It was an old man with age spots on his face. He wore a purple Daoist robe inlaid with golden threads and looked at Xu Qing expressionlessly.
The instant their gazes met, Xu Qing's mind shook. The other party's gaze was like lightning, instantly penetrating his body and seeing it clearly.
However, the life lantern that Xu Qing's shadow covered wasn't something the other party could sense.
"Greetings, Third Elder." Xu Qing lowered his head and bowed respectfully.
"To be able to open two magic apertures at such a young age, not bad." After Third Elder calmly spoke, he said something that caused Xu Qing's heart to tremble.
"Did you take the merfolk race's Spirit Breath Lantern?"
